Local Nature Recovery Strategies (LNRSs) are a new England-wide system of spatial strategies established by the Environment Act 2021.
The main purpose of these strategies is to:
- Help reverse the ongoing decline of nature in England by establishing priorities for nature recovery.
- Identify locations to create or improve habitat most likely to provide the greatest benefit for nature and the wider environment.
- The LNRS will also inform the delivery of mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) and help to guide local planning policy for nature recovery.
Key components of an LNRS include:
- Biodiversity Priorities Statement: Identifying priorities for nature’s recovery.
- Local Habitat Map: Mapping the most valuable existing areas for nature.
- Specific Proposals Map: Highlighting locations for proposed habitat creation or improvement.
Across England there are to be 48 LNRSs, and Nottinghamshire County Council has been appointed by DEFRA (Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) to be the Responsible Authority to lead on the development of the LNRS for the county of Nottinghamshire.
It will do this on behalf of its Supporting Authorities - the 7 districts and boroughs of the county, as well as Nottingham City Council and Natural England.
The production of each LNRS will be evidence-based, locally led and collaborative. The County Council will work with a wide variety of stakeholders including farmers and landowners, environmental and conservation organisations and groups, to help develop the strategy.
A draft strategy will be produced first and will go out for a 6-week public consultation in early 2025. The final strategy will be published in summer 2025 and will help to guide nature recovery in Nottinghamshire.
We recently invited people to respond to an online survey to give us their views, and drop pins on an interactive map to tell us about locations in Notts where there could be opportunities for nature recovery or there are current projects ongoing.
The survey and map closed for comments on 1st November 2024 and your responses are being used to help inform the development of our draft strategy document which we need to prepare by the end of this year. We then need to go through some statutory approval processes before the draft strategy is ready to be issued for public consultation.
Please note you can still view and interact with the interactive map now that the survey has closed.
You will be able to comment on the Draft LNRS when it goes out for a 6-week public consultation period starting in mid-February 2025.
We want as many people as possible to see the draft strategy and support the proposed Priorities and Measures to take positive action for nature.
We want the strategy to be representative of Nottinghamshire habitats and species to ensure the best chances for nature and wildlife to improve and thrive.
If want to be kept informed of progress and the public consultation dates, or you know of any relevant organisations or groups that we should involve, please contact the LNRS Coordinator, email: LNRSNN@nottscc.gov.uk